Toilet deodorizing device



June 4, 1968 T. CHRISTIAN ETAI. 3,386,109

TOILET DEODORI Z ING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1966 WA. ....A

Y www. E ms N VRN R NHU 0 ICO T Y T A Td Y B June 4, 1968 T. CHRISTIAN ETAL 3,386,109

TOILET DEODORIZ ING DEVICE Filed March 2, 1966 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS THOMAS CHRIST/AN BY JACK L. You/VGBLooD ATTORNEY June 4, 1968 l T. CHRISTIAN ETAL 3,386,109

TOILET DEODORIZING DEVICE Filed March 2, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a 50m Q I 76 f" "LL Il! a u' 5a /0 75 INVENTOIL THOMAS' CHRIST/AN BY JACK L YUNGBLOD ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 T. CHRISTIAN ETAL TOILET DEODORI Z ING DEVICE June 4, 1968 Filed March 2. 1966 \\\\\\\frt}m Ville lll INVENTORS THOMAS CHRIST/AN JACK L. vou/vGBLooD ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,386,109 TELET DEGDURIZING DEVICE Thomas Christian, 6&2 W. Hit/ely St., and .lack I.. Youngblood, 401 Hively St., both of Elkhart, Ind. 46514 Filed Mar. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 531,125 Claims. (Cl. 4-213) which is readily, easily and quickly mounted upon or atf tached to an existing toilet seat assembly.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein the entire toilet deodorizing device is self-contained or of unitary construction, including its air intake portion, its blower and its filter.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is unitary or self-contained and which is adapted to be activated by storage batteries or a storage battery.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having novel means for collecting air from a toilet device for delivery to air filtering and purifying means.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the invention as applied to a toilet device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air intake portion of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view illustrating another embodiment of the invention as applied to a toilet device;

FIG, 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the device as seen in the direction of the arrow appearing in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention as applied to a toilet device;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken on line S-S of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 8 but illustrating a modification of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional detail view taken on line 1li-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10 and illustrating a slight variation in the construction;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10 but illustra-ting another variation of construction;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. l0 but illustrating still another variation of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a toilet bowl upon which is pivotally mounted a toilet seat 12 and a seat lid 14. A water tank Patented .lune 4, 1968 ICC 16 is operatively asociated with the toilet bowl in the manner well understood in the art, being normally positioned rearwardly and above the rear portion of the toilet bowl. The usual connections of the tank and the bowl will be provided to accommodate functioning of the parts in a manner well understood in the art. The pivotal mounting or connection of the seat 12 and seat lid 14 with the toilet bowl is provided by conventional hinge means 18.

My toilet deodorizing device includes an air inlet or collection unit 2t) which is adapted to be mounted upon the toilet seat 12 at the bottom thereof in the space which normally is provided between the seat 12 and the top of the bowl 10. This collection means is preferably substantially arcuate in shape to follow lthe curved shape of the rear portion of the seat and is shallow. Member Z0 preferably constitutes a flat upper wall 22 and a flat lower wall 24, both arcuate and similar, which register with one another and are interconnected by an outer wall 26 and end walls 28. An elongated slot 30 is formed at the inner edges of the upper and lower walls 22 and 24. Registering apertures 32 in the upper and lower walls 22 and 24 accommodate securing screws 34. A fiat tubular projection 36 extends rearwardly in substantially the plane of the member 20 from one end thereof and terminates in a cylindrical tubular end portion 38 which preferably is substantially axially aligned with the hinge 18.

A blower and filter unit 4l) of any suitable construction is adapted to be detachably mounted upon a support, such as a wall, preferably below the water tank 16. The blower and filter unit preferably includes a housing having an opening 42 in one end wall lthereof spanned by a reticulated member 44 forming the outlet of the housing. A filter unit (not shown) preferably formed of activated charcoal is mounted at the housing opening 42 and a blower (not shown) is mounted in the casing to a direct air to the filter unit and an intake provided by the fitting 46. Any suitable coupling 48 or connection means accommodates connection of the tube end 38 with the intake fitting 46, the same having relatively rotatable parts accommodating pivotal movement of the lid 14 and toilet seat 12. It will be understood that in the event that the cylindrical tube end part 38 is not axially aligned with the hinge 18, or in the event the position of the mounting of the blower and filter unit 40 does not accommodate a fitting 46 having a part axially aligned with the cylindrical tube end part 38, connection of the parts 38 and 46 may be effected through a flexible hose -5tl and couplings at the ends .thereof at 52 connected respectively with the parts 3S and 46.

By reason of the configuration of the air intake member Ztl it is readily and simply mounted upon a conventional toilet seat rapidly and without the use of special tools. Thus it is possible for a householder to install a deodolizing unit by the use of a simple kit consisting of the member 29', the blower and filter unit 40 and either coupling 48 or flexible hose Sil and couplings 52. The member 2u is normally concealed so that only a part of the unit, as illustrated in FIG. 1 is visible, and this can be of inconspicuous character or can be constructed to be attractive in appearance. The air intake member 20; by reason of the length of the inlet slot 30 thereof, can effectively collect odor bearing air from the toilet seat to be conveyed to and through the blower and filter unit for discharge after deodorizing thereof by the activated charcoal filter or any other suitable filter utilized therein.

A modified embodiment of the invention may require the use of a toilet seat 12' of special configuration as illustrated in FIGS. 4, and 6. Curved or arcuate ribs 56 extend around rear portions of the seat 12', from bowiengaging supports 54, having slight clearance with the top of the bowl itt and spaced apart at 53 to receive therebetween an air intake or collection member having a shallow tube portion d communicating with a rear transverse hinging tube 52 journaled by brackets secured to the bowl 1d by securing members e6. The lid id is journaled upon the tube d6 by brackets 63. One end of the tube 62 may be closed. The other tube end 7% projects laterally of the seat and is adapted for a sealed rotatable tit within a fitting member 72 carried by an air inlet conduit 74 connected to the blower and filter unit 4t2. It will be understood that ribs 56 need not be integral with the seat, but may be separate parts secured to the seat.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 provides a simple, economical and attractive deodorizing unit with minimum exposed parts, and requires only the special seat 12', or separate attached ribs 56, and the tubular collection and hinge parts 6i), 62, 64 and 68 in addition to the blower and filter unit di?, the air inlet conduit 7d and the fitting 72. Thus by preforming the parts to be attached and providing them with convenient mounting means, any toilet may be converted quickly to use the deodorizing means.

It may be desirable in some instances to provide a unitary or self-contained deodorizing unit which does not require separate mounting of the blower and lter unit. In such an instance, a construction of the type illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 13, inclusive, may be utilized.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, inclusive, an elongated tubular member 76 of cylindrical cross-section has tangentially extending therefrom at 78 a shallow inlet tube which is adapted to be secured to the bottom of a toilet seat Sti at the rear central portion thereof. The inlet tube 7S is open at its front end at a transversely elongated shallow intake or mouth 82. The tube 76 is preferably provided with reduced thickness tubular end portions 84, which are encircled and supported by brackets 86 carried by the toilet bowl 1u and upon ywhich are journaled brackets 8S secured to the lid M. Since the member 76 is rotatable in the brackets S6 and the brackets 88 are rotatable independently thereof, it will be seen that the tube '76 and brackets 86, 8S provide hinge means for both the toilet scat 12 and the lid 14.

Within one end portion of the tube 76 is mounted a suitable fan motor 9i) having an elongated shaft 92 of a length to extend across the width of the shallow inlet member 78 and mounting fan blades 94. If desired the shaft may be journaled in a suitable apertured support 96 spaced inwardly from the right-hand end of the member 76, as viewed in FIG. l0. Within the end portion of the tube 76 outwardly of the fan 94 may be confined a suitable filter 9S, such as activated charcoal, contained in a fabric or other container through which air may iiow freely. A releasable bezel 190' may be mounted upon the end of the tube 76 to retain the charcoal filter. In the event the motor 9i) is an alternating current motor, it can have connection to an electrical outlet by means of an electric cord (not shown) having a suitable switch therein (not shown). In the event that battery operation is desired, one or more batteries 102 may be mounted in the left hand end of the tube 7n and may have associated therewith positioning means or switching means 104 provided with an externally accessible actuator operable manually by the user to electrically energize the motor 90 or deenergize the same.

It will be understood that the batteries iti?. need not be mounted within the tube 76 but, alternatively, can be mounted in a suitable socket or opening 1% in the seat as illustrated in FGS. 7 and 8, or may be mounted in a battery socket 1% formed in the lid 14, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

It will be understood that suitable switching means will be provided with readily accessible actuating means for units in which the batteries are mounted in a seat socket 1% or a lid socket 108.

A slightly different construction or embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 11 wherein a filter 110 is mounted within the shallow inlet member '70 and the tube 76` is open at one end.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FGS. l2 and 13, wherein a bafile member 112 extends across the inner end of the inlet member 78 to define a restricted outlet 114 for the shallow inlet member 78 and to define a restricted air flow passage 116 in the tube 76 centrally thereof. in this arrangement the motor 9d has a comparatively short shaft 92 mounting a fan blade 9d and serving to blow air through the restricted passage M6 past the restricted outlet 114 to induce a fiow of air through the inlet member and thence through filter 9S mounted in the outlet end of the tube 76. it will be understood that the location of the filter in the tube 7:? is optional and that in lieu thereof it may be mounted within the inlet member '78, as shown at 11i?.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FiGS. 7 to l2 provides for a unitary deodorizing device in which all parts thereof, including the blower and the filter and inlet member or collecting means, are self-contained and in which the power unit, such as the batteries, may also be self-contained. It will be understood that suitable retainer means, such as tube end cap- 118, bezel or means (not shown) to retain the filters 11i) will be provided to accommodate access to and replacement of the battery, the motor and the filter element.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will ybe understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A deodorizing unit for a toilet device having a toilet bowl and a toilet seat, comprising an air intake member carried by said seat and a blower and filter unit connected to said air intake member to deodorize air drawn thereby through said air intake member, said air intake member having a shallow wide tubular portion with close spaced substantially parallel top and bottom walls and side walls and located at the rear bottom portion of said toilet seat, said bottom wall having clearance with said toilet bowl, said shallow tubular portion having a horizontally elongated intake mouth spaced rearwardly from the adjacent inner edge of said seat, said air intake member including a substantially cylindrical tubular outlet portion communicating with said shallow tubular portion and positioned clear of the rear Outer edge of said seat, said blower and filter unit including a motor driven fan and a filter, said motor driven fan being mounted in said cylindrical tubular portion and .said filter spanning a portion of said air intake member between the intake and outlet of the air flow path therethrough.

2. A deodorizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said filter is housed in said cylindrical tubular portion.

3. A deodorizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said filter is positioned in and spans said shallow tubular portion, and a partition is interposed between a portion of said shallow tubular portion and said cylindrical tubular portion to define merging air fiow paths producing aspiration of air from said shallow portion and discharge through said cylindrical tubular portion.

d. A deodorizing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said filter is housed in said air intake member, a partition at the junction of said shallow and cylindrical tubular portions defines merging air flow paths, said motor driven fan being mounted in said cylindrical tubular portion to 5 direct a flow of air therein past said partition to aspirate 2,214,200 air from said shallow tubular portion. 2,743,462 5. A deodorizing device as dened in claim 1, wherein 2,849,727 a battery is mounted in said air inake member to actuate 3,049,722 said blower, and a control switch .selectively actuates said 5 blower.

References Cited 505,506

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,798,457 3/1931 Cole 4-213 6 9/ 1940 Lowther 4-213 X 5/1956 McMillan 4-213 9/1958 Bollinger et a1. 4-217 8/1962 Boggs 4--213 FOREIGN PATENTS 8/1930 Germany.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

2,181,510 11/1939 Dahlke 4-213 10 HAROLD J. GROSS, Examiner. 

1. A DEODORIZING UNIT FOR A TOILET DEVICE HAVING A TOILET BOWL AND A TOILET SEAT, COMPRISING AN AIR INTAKE MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID SEAT AND A BLOWER AND FILTER UNIT CONNECTED TO SAID AIR INTAKE MEMBER TO DEODORIZE AIR DRAWN THEREBY THROUGH SAID AIR INTAKE MEMBER, SAID AIR INTAKE MEMBER HAVING A SHALLOW WIDE TUBULAR PORTION WITH CLOSE SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS AND SIDE WALLS AND LOCATED AT THE REAR BOTTOM PORTION OF SAID TOILET SEAT, SAID BOTTOM WALL HAVING CLEARANCE WITH SAID TOILET BOWL, SAID SHALLOW TUBULAR PORTION HAVING A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED INTAKE MOUTH SPACED REARWARDLY FROM THE ADJACENT INNER EDGE OF SAID SEAT, SAID AIR INTAKE MEMBER INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL TUBULAR OUTLET PORTION COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SHALLOW TUBULAR PORTION AND POSITIONED CLEAR OF THE REAR OUTER EDGE OF SAID SEAT, SAID BLOWER AND FILTER UNIT INCLUDING A MOTOR DRIVEN FAN AND A FILTER, SAID MOTOR DRIVEN FAN BEING MOUNTED IN SAID CYLINDRICAL TUBULAR PORTION AND SAID FILTER SPANNING A PORTION OF SAID AIR INTAKE MEMBER BETWEEN THE INTAKE AND OUTLET OF THE AIR FLOW PATH THERETHROUGH. 